JP4432555B2 - Toner supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner in a developing container that contains toner used when developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and an image forming apparatus including the toner replenishing device, and more particularly to toner. The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus having a conveying member in a toner replenishing path for replenishing.

  In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner is provided in a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The toner replenishing device is used when new toner is replenished from the toner cartridge or the like to the developing container, or when toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after transfer and collected by the cleaner is replenished to the developing container.

The following prior art (J01) is known as a toner replenishing device for transporting the collected toner collected by the cleaner to the developing container.
(J01) Techniques described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-19922) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-155513) In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, recovered toner collected by a photoreceptor cleaner However, the toner is transported to the front end of the cleaner by the toner transport member (toner transport coil 16 and transport screw 30), and drops on the toner supply path (covers 24 and 25, drop path 35) by its own weight to be replenished to the developing device. In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a conveying member (a knocking member 28 and a toner cross-linking preventing member 40) is provided in the toner replenishing path, and the wall of the toner replenishing path is struck or reciprocated up and down in the toner replenishing path. The toner in the toner replenishment path is moved to convey to the replenishment port (toner recovery port 23, drop path outlet 37) of the developing device.

JP 2000-19922 ("0014" to "0017", FIG. 4) JP 2000-155513 A (“0031” to “0039”, FIGS. 6 to 8)

  However, the collected toner once used for development contains foreign matters such as paper dust, and the fluidity is lowered, so that the toner tends to be hardened. As in the prior art (J01), when the toner is transported to the replenishing port by the transporting member (tapping member 28 or toner cross-linking preventing member 40) in the toner replenishing path, the toner that tends to harden due to low fluidity is developed. There is a risk of clogging at the refill port. In particular, under high temperature and high humidity environment, the fluidity of the toner is likely to be reduced, and when images with high image density are continuously printed in this environment, the amount of collected toner increases, so that the conventional technology (J01) Then, there is a problem that toner clogging is likely to occur at the supply port.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has the following description (O01) as a technical problem.
(O01) To prevent clogging of toner at the replenishing port of the developing device.

(Invention)
Next, the present invention that has solved the above problems will be described. In order to facilitate the correspondence between the elements of the present invention and elements of specific examples (examples) of the embodiments described later, Add the code enclosed in parentheses. The reason why the present invention is described in correspondence with the reference numerals of the embodiments described later is to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and not to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments.

(First invention)
In order to solve the above technical problem, the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect of the invention is characterized by comprising the following structural requirements (A01) to (A03).
(A01) a developing roll storage section (4) for storing a developing roll (Ga) for transporting toner to a developing area (Q2) for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the rotating image carrier (PR) into a toner image; A circulation agitation chamber (6 + 7) adjacent to the developing roll container (4) and circulating while stirring and conveying toner, and a toner replenishing port (2a) for replenishing toner to the circulation agitation chamber (6 + 7) A developing container (V) for storing toner in the developing roll container (4) and the circulation stirring chamber (6 + 7),
(A02) a toner supply path (62) connected to the toner supply port (2a) and supplying toner to the toner supply port (2a);
(A03) A replenishment path conveying member (66) capable of reciprocating along the toner conveying direction in the toner replenishing path (62) , wherein the replenishment path conveying member has moved downstream in the toner conveying direction. In this case, the downstream end (68) of the replenishment path conveying member (66) moves to the downstream side in the toner conveying direction from the toner replenishing port (2a), and the replenishment path conveying member (66) conveys the toner. The replenishment path conveying member (66) in which the downstream end portion (68) of the replenishment path conveying member (66) moves to the upstream side of the toner replenishing port (2a) when moved in the upstream direction .

(Operation of the first invention)
In the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect of the present invention having the structural requirements (A01) to (A03), the toner connected to the toner replenishing port (2a) for replenishing the toner to the circulating stirring chamber (6 + 7) of the developing container (V). The toner is supplied to the toner supply port (2a) through the supply path (62). The replenishment path transport member (66) that can reciprocate in the toner transport direction in the toner replenishment path (62) is provided when the replenishment path transport member moves downstream in the toner transport direction. The downstream end portion (68) of the inner transport member (66) moves to the downstream side in the toner transport direction from the toner supply port (2a), and the replenishment path transport member (66) moves to the upstream side in the toner transport direction. When moved, the downstream end portion (68) of the replenishment path conveying member (66) moves to the upstream side of the toner replenishing port (2a).
Therefore, in the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the in-replenishment path conveying member (66) reciprocates, the lower end portion enters and exits the developer container (V) from the toner replenishing port (2a). It is possible to prevent the toner from being clogged in the mouth (2a) and the toner from being hardened at the toner supply port (2a). As a result, even when toner with low fluidity (for example, collected toner once used in development) is replenished, it can be reliably replenished without clogging at the toner replenishing port (2a).

(First Embodiment 1)
The toner replenishing device according to Embodiment 1 of the first invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the following structural requirement (A04) is provided.
(A04) The replenishment path conveying member (66) having a scraping member (68b) for scraping off the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the toner replenishing port (2a) when moving in the downstream direction in the toner conveying direction.
(Operation of Form 1 of the First Invention)
In the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect of the present invention having the structural requirement (A04), the scraping member (68b) of the replenishment path conveying member (66) is moved to the toner replenishing port when moving downstream in the toner conveying direction. The toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of (2a) is scraped off. Therefore, toner clogging can be prevented more efficiently at the toner replenishing port (2a).

(First Embodiment 2)
A toner replenishing device according to a second aspect of the first invention is characterized in that, in the first invention or the first aspect of the first invention, the following structural requirement (A05) is provided.
(A05) A pressure conveying member (67b) that conveys the toner in the toner replenishment path (62) by pressing it toward the toner replenishing port (2a) of the developing container (V) when moving in the downstream direction in the toner conveying direction. The replenishment path conveying member (66).
(Operation of the second aspect of the first invention)
In the toner replenishing device according to Embodiment 2 of the first aspect of the present invention having the structural requirement (A05), the pressing and conveying member (67b) of the in-replenishment path conveying member (66) moves the toner replenishing path when moving in the downstream direction in the toner conveying direction. The toner in (62) is conveyed by being pressed toward the toner supply port (2a) of the developer container (V). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from adhering in the toner replenishment path (62) to be hardened and clogged.

(Embodiment 3 of the first invention)
A toner replenishing device according to a third aspect of the first invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first invention and the first and second aspects of the first invention, the following structural requirement (A06) is provided.
(A06) The replenishment path conveying member (66) that is rotatably connected to a position eccentric from the axis of the rotating member (43) and reciprocates when the rotating member (43) rotates.
(Operation of the third aspect of the first invention)
In the toner replenishing device according to Embodiment 3 of the first aspect of the present invention having the structural requirement (A06), the replenishment path conveying member (66) is rotatably connected to a position eccentric from the axis of the rotating member (43). And reciprocates when the rotating member (43) rotates. Therefore, it can be reciprocated in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member (43), and a driving device dedicated to the replenishment path conveying member (66) becomes unnecessary.

(First aspect 4)
A toner replenishing device according to a fourth aspect of the first invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first invention and the first to third aspects of the first invention, the following structural requirement (A07) is provided.
(A07) The toner supply path (62) in which the toner collected from the surface of the image carrier (PR) is supplied.
(Operation of the fourth aspect of the first invention)
In the toner replenishing device according to the fourth aspect of the first invention having the structural requirement (A07), toner collected from the surface of the image carrier (PR) is replenished to the toner replenishing path (62). Therefore, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier (PR) and recovered can be supplied to the developing container (V) by the toner supply device.

(Second invention)
In order to solve the above technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention includes the toner replenishing device (TH2) according to any one of the first aspect and the first to fourth aspects of the invention.
(Operation of the second invention)
Since the image forming apparatus of the second invention includes the toner replenishing device (TH2) according to any one of the first invention and the first to fourth aspects of the first invention, the replenishment path conveying member (66) reciprocates. Since the lower end portion enters and exits the developer container (V) from the toner replenishing port (2a), it is possible to prevent the toner replenishing port (2a) from being clogged with toner and the toner replenishing port (2a) from becoming hardened. . As a result, even when toner with low fluidity (for example, collected toner once used in development) is replenished, it can be reliably replenished without clogging at the toner replenishing port (2a).

The above-described present invention has the following effect (E01).
(E01) Toner clogging at the replenishing port of the developing device can be prevented.

Next, specific examples (examples) of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a printer U as an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 is provided with a first paper discharge tray (face-down tray) TRh on the upper surface of a printer body U1. A UI (user interface) for user input operation is provided on the front upper surface of the first discharge tray TRh on the front end side in the sheet discharge direction, and a setting key or the like is provided on the UI. A front panel Ua is disposed on the upper front surface of the printer U, and a lower end portion of the front panel Ua is hinged to the printer U body by a hinge shaft extending in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). Therefore, when replacing the toner cartridge, the process unit, etc., the front panel Ua can be opened for replacement.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 2, electrical signals such as image data and printer control commands transmitted from the host computer HC are input to the controller C of the printer U. The controller C includes a microcomputer and a storage device. The controller C temporarily stores the input image data, and outputs the image data to the laser drive circuit DL as image data for forming a latent image at a predetermined timing.
The laser drive circuit DL outputs a laser drive signal to the ROS (latent image forming apparatus) according to the input image data. The operation of the UI (user interface), the laser drive circuit DL, the developing roll Ga, which will be described later, the power supply circuit E for applying a bias voltage to the transfer roll Rt as a transfer device, and the like are controlled by the controller C.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the toner image forming apparatus portion of FIG.
2 and 3, a toner image forming device U2 for forming a black toner image is disposed on the left side of the ROS. A laser beam L emitted from the laser diode (not shown) of the latent image forming apparatus (latent image forming optical system) ROS is incident on the rotating photoconductor PR.
2 and 3, a photoconductor (image carrier) PR, a charging roll (charging member) CR, a developing device G, and a cleaner CL that rotate in the direction of an arrow about a rotation axis PRa (see FIG. 3). have. Further, the toner image forming apparatus U2 is unitized and is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body U1 as a process unit. The process unit U2 is attached and detached with the front cover Ua supported to be openable and closable on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body U1 opened.

The surface of the image carrier PR is uniformly charged by a charging roll CR, and then exposed and scanned by a laser beam L of the ROS (latent image forming apparatus) at a latent image writing position Q1 (see FIG. 3). An electrostatic latent image is formed.
The surface of the image carrier PR on which the electrostatic latent image is formed rotates and moves sequentially through a development area Q2 (see FIG. 3) and a transfer area (sheet transfer area) Q3 (see FIG. 2).
The developing device G includes a developing roll Ga to which a developing bias is applied, and a developing container V that rotatably supports toner stirring members Gb and Gc that transport the toner while stirring the developing roll, and that stores the toner. . Then, the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier PR that passes through the developing area Q2 is developed into a toner image by the developing roll Ga.

One end of the replenishment path of the cartridge toner replenishing device TH1 fixedly supported by the printer U is connected to the front end portion of the developing container V, and the other end of the replenishment path of the cartridge toner replenishing device TH1 is connected to the toner cartridge TC. Connected to the toner outlet.
In FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 2 has a toner container TC1 for containing toner therein, and a toner conveying member TC2 is rotatably supported in the toner container TC1. Therefore, according to the consumption of toner in the developing device G, the toner conveying member TC2 is rotationally driven to convey the toner in the toner container TC1 to the front (+ X side) toner discharge port TC3. The toner discharged from the toner discharge port TC3 is conveyed to the developing container V of the developing device G by a toner conveying member (such as an auger) (not shown) in the toner replenishing path of the cartridge toner replenishing device TH1.

The toner cartridge TC is configured to be detachable by being inserted into and removed from the printer U in the front-rear direction. The toner cartridge TC is attached and detached with the front cover Ua supported to be openable and closable on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body U1 opened.
A toner image forming device (PR + CR + ROS + G) for forming a toner image (image) on the photoconductor PR is formed by the photoconductor PR, the charging roll CR, ROS (electrostatic latent image forming device), the developing device G, and the like. .

A plurality of paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) contain recording sheets S for image recording for conveyance to the transfer area Q3. The tray can be moved into and out of the tray housing space inside the printer U from a paper feed tray insertion port formed on the front surface of the printer U.
In FIG. 2, in the lower part (tray storage space) of the printer U, rails (movingly supporting) both left and right ends of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 that are put in and out (inserted and removed) from the paper feed tray insertion port ( Tray support members) RL1 and RL1 are disposed, and the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 are supported by a pair of left and right rails RL1 and RL1 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

In FIG. 2, a paper feeding device K having a pick-up roll Rp and a separating roll Rs having a feed roll and a retard roll is provided on the upper side of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4.
The recording sheets S taken out by the pick-up roll Rp of the paper feeder K are separated one by one by the separating roll Rs and fed to the main body sheet conveyance path (first standard sheet conveyance path) SH1 of the sheet conveyance apparatus SH. Paper. The fed sheet S is conveyed by a plurality of sheet conveying rolls Ra of the sheet conveying apparatus SH, and is conveyed to the transfer region Q3 by a registration roll Rr (see FIG. 2) at a predetermined timing.

  A manual feed tray TR0 is mounted on the left side of the printer (image recording apparatus) U. The sheet S fed from the manual feed tray TR0 passes from the optional manual feed sheet transport path SH5 through the manual feed tray sheet transport path SH2 and passes through the main body sheet transport path (first standard sheet transport path). The sheet is conveyed to SH1 and conveyed to the transfer region Q3 by a sheet conveyance roll Ra and a registration roll Rr arranged along the main body sheet conveyance path (first standard sheet conveyance path) SH1.

  In FIG. 2, a transfer roll Rt to which a transfer bias is applied is disposed in the transfer region Q3. The transfer roll Rt is in pressure contact with the photosensitive member PR in the transfer region Q3, and transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member PR to the sheet S passing through the transfer region Q3. Note that a transfer device that transfers (records) a toner image (image) formed on the photoconductor PR onto a sheet, instead of being configured only by the transfer roll Rt as in the first embodiment, is a discharge type such as a corotron. This transfer member can be used. The transfer device also includes an intermediate transfer member, a primary transfer member for primary transfer of the toner image on the photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer member, and a secondary transfer for secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to the sheet. It is possible to comprise with a member.

An image (toner image) is formed on the sheet S by the toner image forming device (PR + CR + ROS + G) including the photosensitive member PR, the charging roll CR, ROS (latent image forming device) and the developing device G, and the transfer roll Rt as a transfer device. ) Is recorded (PR + CR + ROS + G + Rt).
After the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor PR is transferred to the sheet S in the transfer region Q3, the residual toner attached to the surface of the photoconductor PR is collected by the cleaner CL. The photoreceptor PR from which the residual toner adhering to the surface by the cleaner CL is collected is charged by the charging roll CR.

  The sheet S on which the unfixed toner image is transferred in the transfer region Q3 is conveyed to the fixing region Q4 in a state where the toner image is unfixed, and a pair of fixing rolls Fh of the fixing device F disposed in the fixing region Q4, The toner image is fixed by Fp. The sheet S on which the fixing toner image is formed is then guided by the sheet guide and conveyed to the paper discharge roll R1. The sheet S is discharged from the sheet discharge port Ha to the discharge tray (first discharge tray) TRh by the discharge roll R1.

Inside the printer U, a main body sheet reversing path SH3 connected to the sheet discharge port Ha is provided. An optional sheet reversing device U3 is mounted on the manual feed tray TR0. An optional sheet reversing path SH4 connected to the main body sheet reversing path SH3 is formed inside the sheet reversing device U1. Therefore, at the time of duplex printing, the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed in the fixing area Q4 passes through the main body sheet reversing path SH3 and the option sheet reversing path SH4, and is conveyed to the registration roll Rr to the transfer area Q3. Resent.
The main body sheet reversing path SH3 and the option sheet reversing path SH4 constitute a sheet reversing path (SH3 + SH4).

  The sheet reversing device U3 is provided with an optional paper discharge tray (second paper discharge tray, face-up tray) TRh1 that is discharged in a state where the image recording surface of the sheet S is the upper surface. An optional sheet discharge path SH6 is provided between the optional sheet discharge tray TRh1 and the main body sheet reversing path SH3. Accordingly, when the user designates discharging to the optional paper discharge tray TRh1, the sheet S passes through the optional sheet discharge path SH6 from the main body sheet reversing path SH3 and is discharged to the optional paper discharge tray TRh1. The

(Developer)
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
3 and 4, the developing device G disposed opposite to the image carrier PR in the developing region Q2 has a developing container V that stores toner. The developing container V includes a developing container main body 1 and a developing container cover 2 that closes the upper end of the developing container main body 1. A front projecting portion 3 (see FIG. 4) that projects forward is integrally formed at the front end of the developing container body 1. A layer thickness regulating member SK extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) is fixedly supported at the left end (−Y end) of the developer container cover 2. The front end of the layer thickness regulating member SK is disposed to face the developing roll Ga, and regulates the thickness of the toner layer attached to the developing roll Ga.

In FIG. 3, inside the developing container main body 1, a developing roll chamber (developing roll storage portion) 4 that stores the developing roll Ga, a first stirring chamber 6 adjacent to the developing roll chamber 4, and the first A second stirring chamber 7 adjacent to the stirring chamber 6 is provided.
3 and 4, the first stirring chamber 6 includes a first main stirring chamber 6 a (see FIGS. 4 and 5) on the developing container body 1 side and a left portion (−Y portion) 3 a side of the front protrusion 3. And a collected toner supply chamber 6b (see FIG. 4). The second agitating chamber 7 has a second main agitating chamber 7a on the developing container main body 1 side and a cartridge toner replenishing chamber 7b on the right (+ Y) 3b side of the front projecting portion 3.

Between the first stirring chamber 6 and the second stirring chamber 7 inside the developing container main body 1, a portion other than both ends of the first main stirring chamber 6a and the second main stirring chamber 7a is a partition wall 9. It is partitioned by. That is, the first main stirring chamber 6a and the second main stirring chamber 7a are configured to communicate with each other at the front communication portion E1 and the rear communication portion E2 at both ends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) (FIG. 4). reference).
The first stirring chamber 6 and the second stirring chamber 7 constitute a circulation stirring chamber (6 + 7).

  The developer container cover 2 above the left portion 3a of the front connection member 3 is formed with a collected toner supply port 2a (see FIG. 4), and the developer container cover above the right portion 3b of the front connection member 3 is formed. 2, a cartridge toner supply port 2b (see FIG. 4) is formed. The cartridge toner replenishing port 2b is connected to the cartridge toner replenishing device TH1 and replenishes toner from the toner cartridge TC. Further, the recovered toner replenishing port 2a is provided at the downstream end of the first stirring chamber 6, and the cartridge toner replenishing port 2b is provided at the upstream end of the second stirring chamber 7, so that each of the replenishing ports 2a and 2b is provided. The toner (new toner or recovered toner) replenished from the toner is conveyed to the developing roll Ga immediately after the replenishment and is not used for development.

  3 and 4, the developing roll Ga is a conventionally known developing roll having a developing sleeve 12 rotatably supported on the outer periphery of a magnet roll 11 fixedly supported by the developing container V. The toner in the developing roll chamber 4 and the first main stirring chamber 6a is attracted onto the surface of the developing roll Ga (developing sleeve 12) by the magnetic force of the magnet roll 11, and is transported to the developing area Q2. Further, both front and rear end portions of the developing sleeve 12 are rotatably supported by the front wall and the rear wall of the developing roll chamber 4, and a gear G0 (see FIG. 4) is provided at the rear end (−X side end) of the developing sleeve 12. ) Is fixed.

  3 and 4, the first stirring chamber 6 and the second stirring chamber 7 are provided with a first stirring member Gb and a second stirring member Gc that convey the toner while stirring. In FIG. 4, the first stirring member Gb includes a first rotating shaft 21 extending in the axial direction of the developing roll Ga, a stirring and conveying spiral blade 22 and a reversely conveying spiral blade 23 fixed to the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 21. have. The stirring and conveying spiral blade 22 is provided from the rear communication portion E2 to the front communication portion E1 in order to convey the toner from the rear side (−X side) to the front side (+ X side). The reverse conveyance spiral blade 23 is provided in the vicinity of the recovered toner supply port 2a, and conveys toner from the first agitation chamber 6 to the second direction by conveying toner in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the agitation conveyance spiral blade 22. It flows into the stirring chamber 7. The rotary shaft 21 is rotatably supported by the front wall of the left portion 3a of the front connection portion 3 and the rear wall of the developing container body 1, and is attached to the rear end portion (−X side end portion) of the rotary shaft 21. The gear G1 (see FIG. 4) is fixed.

  In FIG. 4, the second stirring member Gc includes a second rotating shaft 26, a multiple stirring and conveying spiral blade 27 fixed to the front end portion (+ X end portion) of the second rotating shaft 26, and a multiple stirring spiral blade 27. And a reverse conveying spiral blade 29 fixed to a rear end portion (−X end portion). The multi-stirring conveyance spiral blade 27 is provided from the cartridge toner supply port 2b to the front communication portion E1 in order to convey the toner from the front side (+ X side) to the rear side (−X side). The multiple agitating / conveying spiral blades 27 have two stirring / conveying spiral blades having the same pitch as the pitch of the agitating / conveying spiral blades 28 (the distance moved in the front-rear direction by the rotation of the second agitating member Gc1). Therefore, in the high-speed conveyance unit H1 in which the multiple agitation conveyance spiral blades 27 are arranged, the toner conveyance speed is higher than in the portion where the agitation conveyance spiral blades 28 are arranged (medium-speed conveyance unit H3 described later).

The agitating and conveying spiral blade 28 is provided from the front communication portion E1 to the rear communication portion E2 in order to convey the toner from the front side (+ X side) to the rear side (−X side). A plurality of flat blades 31 fixed to the second rotating shaft 26 and extending in the axial direction are provided at the front end portion of the stirring and conveying spiral blade 28. A flat blade 31 is also provided at the rear end of the stirring and conveying spiral blade 28. The flat blade 31 does not convey the toner in the backward direction, but only performs stirring. Therefore, in the low speed conveyance unit H2 where the flat blades 31 are arranged, the toner conveyance speed is lower than in the medium speed conveyance unit H3 where the flat blades 31 are not arranged. Therefore, the second stirring member Gc of the first embodiment includes a high-speed transport unit H1, a low-speed transport unit H2, a medium-speed transport unit H3, and a low-speed transport unit H2 in order from the upstream side.
The reverse conveyance spiral blade 29 is provided on the rear end side (−X side end side) of the rear side communication portion E2, and conveys the toner in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the agitation conveyance spiral blade 28. The toner is caused to flow from the second stirring chamber 7 into the first stirring chamber 6. The second rotation shaft 26 is rotatably supported by the front wall of the right part 3b of the front connection part 3 and the rear wall of the developing container main body 1, and a gear G2 is fixed to the rear end part.

In FIG. 4, the gear G0 at the rear end of the developing sleeve 12 is engaged with the gear G1 of the first rotating shaft 21, and the gear G1 is engaged with the gear G2 of the second rotating shaft 26. The gear G0 receives the rotational force of a main motor (not shown). When the gear G0 is rotated by the motor, the gear G1 rotates in the opposite direction to the gear G0, and the gear G1 and the gear G2 are opposite to each other. Rotate in the direction. That is, the first stirring member Gb and the second stirring member Gc that rotate together with the gear G1 and the gear G2 rotate in opposite directions. Accordingly, the toner in the first stirring chamber 6 and the second stirring chamber 7 is conveyed and circulated in opposite directions by the rotation of the first stirring member Gb and the second stirring member Gc.
The first stirring member Gb and the second stirring member Gc constitute a toner stirring and conveying member (Gb + Gc).
The developing device G is constituted by the developing container V, the developing roll Ga, the first stirring member Gb, the second stirring member Gc, and the like.

(Cleaner)
5A and 5B are explanatory views of the collected toner conveying member. FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along the line VA-VA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along the line VB-VB in FIG.
In FIG. 3, the cleaner CL has a cleaner container (toner collection container) 41 arranged along the axial direction of the photoconductor PR. A cleaning blade 42 that contacts the surface of the photoconductor PR and collects toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor PR is supported at the lower right side of the cleaner container 41. A collected toner conveying member 43 is disposed above the cleaning blade 42.

4 and 5, the collected toner conveying member 43 includes a collected toner conveying rotating shaft 46, a conveying spiral blade (conveying blade) 47 fixed around the collected toner conveying rotating shaft 46, and a plurality of flat blades 48. And have. The conveying spiral blade 47 conveys the toner (collected toner) collected in the cleaner container 41 from the rear (−X direction) to the front (+ X direction). The plurality of flat blades 48 agitate the toner without conveying it forward. In the first embodiment, the flat blades 48 are provided on the collected toner conveying rotary shaft 46. However, if it is not necessary to improve the stirring performance in this portion, the flat blades 48 may be omitted. .
In FIG. 5, the collected toner transport rotary shaft 46 is rotatably supported by the rear end wall 41a of the cleaner container 41, and a gear G4 is fixed to the rear end (−X end). The gear G4 meshes with a gear G6 fixed to the rear end of the photoconductor PR, and the gear G6 meshes with the gear G0 for the developing roll Ga. Accordingly, the driving force of the main motor is transmitted in the order of the gears G0, G6, G4, and the photosensitive member PR and the collected toner conveying member 43 are rotationally driven.

In FIG. 5, the front end portion of the collected toner transport rotary shaft 46 passes through a collected toner discharge port (downstream end through hole) 41 c formed in the front end wall 41 b of the cleaner container 41. An elastic film (coagulated toner pulverizing member) 49 welded to the front end portion of the collected toner transport rotary shaft 46 is disposed inside the collected toner discharge port 41c. As shown in FIG. 5B, the elastic film 49 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the recovered toner discharge port 41c, and rubs the inner peripheral surface of the recovered toner discharge port 41c when the recovered toner transport member 43 is driven to rotate. Rotates (while pressing).
In FIG. 5, an eccentric pin 51 is provided at the front end of the collected toner transport rotating shaft 46 at a position eccentric from the rotation center of the collected toner transport rotating shaft 46.
A toner collecting device TK is constituted by the cleaner container 41, the collected toner conveying member 43, the cleaner discharge port 41c, the elastic film 49, and the like. A cleaner CL is constituted by the cleaning blade 42, the toner recovery device TK, and the like.

(Recovered toner supply path)
6A and 6B are explanatory views of the process unit, FIG. 6A is a side view of the process unit, FIG. 6B is a side view of the state where the collected toner supply path forming member is removed, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIC-VIC in FIG. is there.
6B, the front end wall 41b of the cleaner container 41 is formed with a substantially U-shaped toner supply path wall portion 41d that protrudes forward and inclines in the lower right direction. In FIG. 6A, a collected toner replenishment path forming member 61 is attached to the front end surface of the process unit (toner image forming apparatus) U2. 6A and 6C, the collected toner replenishment path forming member 61 has an upper plate portion 61a and a lower cylindrical replenishment path portion 61b. The upper plate portion 61a contacts the front end surface of the toner supply path wall portion 41d and closes the front surface (+ X surface) of the toner supply path wall portion 41d. The lower end of the cylindrical supply path 61b is connected to the collected toner supply port 2a.

A toner leakage prevention member 61c is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical replenishment path portion 61b to contact the lower end surface of the toner replenishment path wall portion 41d to prevent toner leakage. The toner leakage preventing member 61c according to the first exemplary embodiment is made of sponge, but can be made of rubber or the like.
Therefore, the recovered toner supply path 62 is formed by the front end wall 41b of the cleaner container 41, the space surrounded by the toner supply path wall part 41d and the plate part 61a, and the space inside the cylindrical supply path part 61b.

(Conveying member in supply path)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the replenishment path conveying member and the developing container.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a replenishment path conveying member.
In FIG. 6B, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, a replenishment path conveying member 66 is disposed in the collected toner replenishment path 62. The replenishment path conveying member 66 includes an upper inclined conveying portion 67 and an up-down direction conveying portion (downstream end portion) 68 extending downward from the lower right end of the inclined conveying portion 67. An eccentric pin mounting hole 67 a is formed in the upper left end portion of the inclined conveying portion 67 and is mounted on the eccentric pin 51 at the front end of the collected toner conveying member 43. In addition, a plurality of wall contact conveyance parts (press conveyance members) 67 b protruding in the lower left direction are formed on the lower surface of the inclined conveyance part 67. Further, a rib 67c is formed on the upper surface of the inclined conveying section 67 to increase the strength and scrape off the toner adhering to the collected toner supply path 62 above the rib 67c.

  In FIG. 6B and FIG. 7, the lower end portion of the up-down direction transport unit 68 passes through the collected toner supply port 2a and extends into the collected toner supply chamber 6b of the developing container V. A plurality of left protrusions 68a are formed on the left side of the vertical conveyance unit 68, and the lower end (downstream end in the toner conveyance direction) of the vertical conveyance unit 68 is in the collected toner supply port 2a. A toner scraping portion (scraping member) 68b is integrally formed in the disposed portion.

Since the replenishment path conveying member 66 is mounted on the eccentric pin 51, the inclined conveying portion 67 moves to the lower right (+ Y-Z direction) and upper left (-Y + Z direction) as the collected toner conveying member 43 rotates. Reciprocating while drawing an approximately elliptical trajectory. Therefore, the wall abutting and conveying portion 67b moves to the lower right (downstream in the toner conveying direction) while rubbing (pressing) the lower left inner surface 41e of the toner replenishing passage wall portion 41d, and then the toner replenishing passage wall portion. Repeated reciprocating movement away from 41d and moving to the upper left.
At this time, the up-down direction transport unit 68 reciprocates in the up-down direction. Accordingly, the left protruding portion 68a of the up-down direction conveying portion 68 moves up and down while rubbing the left inner surface of the cylindrical supply path portion 61b. In other words, the toner on the left inner surface of the rubbing cylindrical replenishment path portion 61b is scraped off and conveyed to the collected toner replenishment port 2a while the posture of the replenishment path conveyance member 66 is maintained by the left protrusion 68a. . Further, the toner scraping portion 68b moves up and down at the portion of the collected toner supply port 2a, and scrapes the toner adhering to the collected toner supply port 2a toward the lower collected toner supply chamber 6b.
The developer container G2, the collected developer replenishment path 62, the replenishment path conveying member 66, and the like constitute a collected toner replenishing device TH2.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the image forming apparatus U of Example 1 having the above-described configuration, the toner replenished from the toner cartridge TC is supplied to the cartridge toner replenishing port 2b on the upper surface of the cartridge toner replenishing chamber 7b provided at the upstream end of the second stirring chamber 7. It is replenished from. The replenished toner is transported at high speed by the two multi-transport spiral blades 27 through the high speed transport unit H1, and is transported to the downstream low speed transport unit H2. Since the low speed transport unit H2 is provided with the flat blade 31 that does not transport the toner and performs stirring, the toner transport speed is lower than that of the medium speed transport unit H3 that is not provided with the flat blade 31. ing. Therefore, when the toner that has been conveyed at high speed through the high-speed conveyance unit H1 reaches the low-speed conveyance unit H2, the toner stays in the low-speed conveyance unit H2. Then, since it takes time for the toner to pass through the low speed conveyance unit H2 having a low conveyance speed, the toner is sufficiently stirred over the time by the agitation conveyance spiral blade 28 and the flat blade 31 in the low speed conveyance unit H2. Therefore, even when the toner replenished from the toner cartridge is firmly agglomerated, it can be sufficiently stirred and pulverized and charged.

Further, the toner collected by the cleaner CL and conveyed by the collected toner supply device TH2 is supplied from the collected toner supply port 2a at the downstream end of the first stirring chamber. The replenished recovered toner is conveyed to the upstream end of the second agitating chamber 7 through the front communication portion E1 by the reverse conveying spiral blade 23 of the first agitating and conveying member Gb. Therefore, the toner that contains paper powder or the like in the collected toner and whose fluidity is likely to be lowered and hardened is also transported to the low-speed transport unit H2 and sufficiently stirred.
Further, the toner sufficiently stirred by the low speed transport unit H2 is transported through the medium speed transport unit H3 and further stirred by the low speed transport unit H2 provided at the downstream end thereof. And it is used for development with the developing roll Ga.
In addition, when the present inventor provides only the low speed transport unit H2 downstream of the high speed transport unit H1, the toner does not stay much in the low speed transport unit H2, and the low speed transport unit H2 further downstream of the low speed transport unit H2. It was found that more toner stays in the low-speed transport unit H2 when the medium-speed transport unit H3 that transports at a higher speed is provided. This is because the low-speed conveyance unit H2 is disposed between the high-speed conveyance unit H1 and the medium-speed conveyance unit H3 whose toner conveyance speed is higher than that of the low-speed conveyance unit H2. It seems that the toner is likely to stay. Therefore, in Example 1, since the medium-speed conveyance unit H3 is provided on the downstream side of the low-speed conveyance unit H2, the toner stays in the low-speed conveyance unit H2 and is sufficiently stirred.

  Therefore, the second stirring member Gc of the first embodiment has the low speed transport unit H2 in which the toner stays and is sufficiently stirred. Compared to the conventional case in which only the portion is provided, the toner stirring performance is higher. Accordingly, it is possible to sufficiently stir the agglomerated toner and the recovered toner recovered from the surface of the image carrier. As a result, the sufficiently agitated toner can be used for development, so that a strip-like image defect caused by insufficient agitation can be prevented. In addition, since the charge distribution of the toner is improved by sufficient agitation, it is possible to prevent fogging, clouding, and the like due to poor charging.

In the image forming apparatus U according to the first exemplary embodiment, the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 42 is collected and transported by the toner collecting device TK. At this time, an elastic film 49 (see FIG. 5B) that rotates while contacting and pressing the inner peripheral surface of the cleaner discharge port 41c is supported at the downstream end of the collected toner conveying member 43. Accordingly, the solidified toner conveyed by the collected toner conveying member 43 and passing through the cleaner discharge port 41 c is pulverized by the rotating elastic film 49. Therefore, the recovered toner that contains paper powder or the like and tends to harden due to decrease in fluidity can be pulverized and conveyed.
Further, since the elastic film 49 rotates while pressing the cleaner discharge port 41c, it is possible to prevent the toner having reduced fluidity from adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the cleaner discharge port 41c and solidifying, thereby preventing the cleaner discharge port 41c from being clogged. . When the elastic film 49 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cleaner discharge port 41c at an acute angle, it rotates while scraping off the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface, so that it is possible to efficiently prevent the toner from adhering.

  In FIG. 6B, the collected toner discharged from the cleaner discharge port 41 c is conveyed into the collected toner supply path 62. A part of the toner in the collected toner supply path 62 floats in the collected toner supply path 62 and then falls to the collected toner supply port 2a by its own weight, but most of the collected toner is in the lower left inner surface of the toner supply path wall portion 41d. It falls to 41e. The wall abutting conveyance portion 67b of the replenishment path conveying member 66 moves to the lower right while rubbing the lower left inner surface 41e of the toner replenishment path wall portion 41d, so that the toner dropped on the lower left inner surface 41e of the toner replenishment path wall portion 41d Then, it is conveyed in the lower right direction by the wall contact conveyance unit 67b. The wall abutting / conveying portion 67b moves while rubbing the lower left inner surface 41e of the toner replenishment path wall portion 41d, so that the collected toner that tends to be hardened due to the decrease in fluidity is applied to the lower left inner surface 41e of the toner replenishment path wall portion 41d. It can prevent sticking and hardening.

The toner transported in the lower right direction by the wall contact transport section 67b passes through the inside of the cylindrical supply path section 61b and falls to the collected toner supply port 2a.
In the portion of the collected toner supply port 2a, the lower end portion of the vertical conveyance portion 68 of the in-replenishment path conveyance member 66 moves up and down, so that the toner is solidified in the portion of the collected toner supply port 2a and the collected toner supply port. It is possible to prevent clogging of 2a. Further, since the toner scraping portion 68b moves up and down, the toner adhering to the toner replenishing port 2a can be scraped into the collected toner chamber 6b, and clogging of the collected toner replenishing port 2a can be prevented efficiently. .

Therefore, the image forming apparatus U according to the first exemplary embodiment conveys the collected toner that contains foreign matters such as paper dust and tends to be hardened due to low fluidity from the cleaner CL to the developing container V while pulverizing the toner. It is possible to prevent clogging at the cleaner discharge port 41c and the collected toner supply port 2a. Then, the collected toner and the new toner replenished from the toner cartridge TC can be sufficiently agitated and reused in the low speed conveyance unit H2 of the developing container V.
In addition, a dedicated device is not required to pulverize the collected toner mass, and the collected toner mass can be pulverized by the elastic film 49 having a simple structure and low cost. ), Cost can be reduced. Accordingly, the process unit U2 and the image forming apparatus U can be reduced in size and cost.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H014) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) The present invention is not limited to a printer, and can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a FAX, or a multifunction machine. Further, the present invention is not limited to a monochrome image forming apparatus, and can be applied to a color image forming apparatus.
(H02) In the above-described embodiment, the high-speed transport unit H1 of the developing device G is configured by the two multi-stirring transport spiral blades 27. However, the number of spiral blades is not limited to two and can be changed as appropriate. In addition, instead of providing a plurality of spiral blades, it is possible to increase the transport speed by increasing the pitch of the spiral blades or decreasing the diameter of the second rotating shaft 26 in the portion of the high-speed transport unit H1. is there. In addition, when it is not necessary to raise a conveyance speed and stirring performance so much, the said high speed conveyance part H1 can also be abbreviate | omitted.

(H03) In the above-described embodiment, the low speed conveyance unit H2 of the developing device G is provided with the flat blade 31 to reduce the conveyance speed. Instead of providing the flat blade 31, the pitch of the stirring conveyance spiral blade of the low speed conveyance unit H2 It is also possible to reduce the toner conveying speed by reducing the diameter of the second rotating shaft 26 in the portion of the low-speed conveying portion H2 or by partially cutting away the stirring and conveying blades. . In addition, when it is not necessary to improve the stirring performance so much, the low-speed transport unit H2 can be omitted.
(H04) In the embodiment described above, the second agitation transport member Gb includes the high-speed transport unit H1, the low-speed transport unit H2, the medium-speed transport unit H3, and the low-speed transport unit H2 in order from the upstream side. For example, a high-speed transfer unit H1, a low-speed transfer unit H2, a high-speed transfer unit H1, a low-speed transfer unit H2, a medium-speed transfer unit H3 are provided in this order, or a high-speed transfer unit H1, a low-speed transfer unit H2, and a high-speed transfer It can be arbitrarily changed, for example, by providing a transport section in the order of the section H1 and the medium speed transport section H3. However, in order to enhance the stirring performance of the toner, it is desirable to provide the high-speed conveyance unit H1 at the most upstream end and the low-speed conveyance unit H2 immediately downstream thereof.

(H05) In the above-described embodiment, the stirring and conveying member (so-called auger) having spiral blades is used as the stirring and conveying members Gb, Gc and 43. However, an agitating and conveying member such as an agitator or a spring can be used.
(H06) In the above-described embodiment, the toner recovery device TK uses an elastic film as the coagulated toner pulverizing member, but instead of this, a coagulated toner pulverizing member such as a paddle supported by the recovered toner conveying rotation shaft 46 is used. It is also possible to use it.

(H07) In the above-described embodiment, the replenishment path conveying member 66 is mounted on the eccentric pin 51 of the collected toner conveying member 43 and reciprocates according to the rotation of the collected toner conveying member 43. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it can be configured to reciprocate by another drive system.
(H08) The toner supply device of the present invention is applicable not only to the collected toner supply device TH2 but also to the cartridge toner supply device TH1.
(H09) In the above embodiment, the shapes of the left protruding portion 68a and the toner scraping portion 68b can be changed as appropriate and can be omitted.

(H010) In the above embodiment, the collected toner supply path 62 is a supply path whose upper part is inclined to the lower right and whose lower part is extended in the vertical direction. It is possible to use only a supply path inclined in the direction, or a supply path extending in the horizontal direction.
(H011) In the above-described embodiment, the elastic film is supported on the recovered toner transport rotating shaft 46 by welding, but can be supported on the recovered toner transport rotating shaft 46 by any method such as adhesion or screwing. is there.

(H012) The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus using a one-component developer containing only toner or an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer containing toner and carrier. Further, the present invention can also be applied to a trickle-type developing apparatus that discards excess developer little by little while replenishing the developer.
(H013) In the above embodiment, the cleaning blade is used as the toner collecting member for collecting the toner. However, it is possible to use a toner collecting member such as a cleaning brush.
(H014) The present invention is applicable not only when the process unit is replaceable but also when the process unit is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the toner image forming apparatus portion of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the collected toner conveying member. FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along the line VA-VA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along the line VB-VB in FIG. 6A and 6B are explanatory views of the process unit, FIG. 6A is a side view of the process unit, FIG. 6B is a side view of the state where the collected toner supply path forming member is removed, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIC-VIC in FIG. is there. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the replenishment path conveying member and the developing container. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a replenishment path conveying member.

Explanation of symbols

2a: Toner supply port,
4 ... Developing roll container,
6 + 7 ... circulation stirring chamber,
43 ... Rotating member,
62: Toner supply path,
66 ... transport member in the supply path,
67b ... a pressure conveying member,
68b ... scraping member,
Ga ... developing roll,
PR: Image carrier,
Q2: Development area,
TH2: toner replenishing device,
V: Developer container.

Claims (6)

A toner replenishing device comprising the following structural requirements (A01) to (A03):
(A01) A developing roll container that houses a developing roll that conveys toner to a developing area that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the rotating image carrier into a toner image; and agitating the toner adjacent to the developing roll container A developing container that has a circulation agitating chamber that circulates while being conveyed, and a toner replenishing port that replenishes toner to the circulating agitating chamber, and that accommodates toner in the developing roll accommodating portion and the circulating agitating chamber;
(A02) a toner supply path connected to the toner supply port and supplying toner to the toner supply port;
(A03) A replenishment path conveying member capable of reciprocating along the toner conveying direction in the toner replenishing path , wherein the replenishment path conveying member moves to the downstream side in the toner conveying direction. The downstream end of the replenishment path transport member moves when the downstream end of the transport member moves to the downstream side in the toner transport direction from the toner replenishment port, and the transport path transport member moves to the upstream side in the toner transport direction. The replenishment path conveying member whose section moves upstream of the toner replenishing port . The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising: (A04)
(A04) The replenishment path conveying member having a scraping member that scrapes off the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the toner replenishing port when moving in the downstream direction in the toner conveying direction. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner replenishing device comprises:
(A05) The replenishment path conveying member having a pressure conveying member that conveys the toner in the toner replenishment path by pressing the toner in the toner replenishment path toward the toner replenishing port when the toner moves in the downstream direction. The toner replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the following structural requirement (A06):
(A06) The replenishment path conveying member that is rotatably connected to a position eccentric from the axis of the rotating member and reciprocates when the rotating member rotates. The toner replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the following constituent (A07):
(A07) The toner supply path through which toner collected from the surface of the image carrier is supplied. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner replenishing device according to claim 1.

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